June 25, 2023 — September 17, 2023

Block Party: Community and Celebration in American Art

This exhibition uses the World War I innovation of the urban block party as a lens to view artists’ ideas on celebration and community. Flowing through multiple galleries in the Museum like a parade, Block Party includes works from twenty-eight artists and one collective of makers that span generations and disciplines. Artworks range from room-sized painting installations and large-scale videos to extraordinary examples of historical American art, and the exhibition comprises collection works alongside loans from artists’ studios and distinguished museums and foundations from Arkansas and Illinois to New York, Massachusetts, and South Carolina.

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Terry Adkins (1953-2014), Native Son (Circus), 2006, fabricated in 2015, cymbals, armature, and additional technical components, 20 x 96 x 96 in. Art Bridges. Courtesy Lévy Gorvy. Photography by Elisabeth Bernstein.

Nick Cave, Drive-By, 2011. Film still. Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA, Purchased as the gift of Katherine D. and Stephen C. Sherrill (PA 1971, and P 2005, 2007, 2010), 2012.30. © Nick Cave. Photo: Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York

Kyra Markham, Square Dance, 1945. Tempera on Masonite. The Columbia Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Lueck.

Noel W. Anderson, The Last Supper, 2022–23. Distressed and stretched cotton tapestry, 106 x 160 in. © Noel W. Anderson. Courtesy of NWA Studios LLC, New York.

Noel W. Anderson, The Last Supper, (Detail) 2022–23. Distressed and stretched cotton tapestry, 106 x 160 in. © Noel W. Anderson. Courtesy of NWA Studios LLC, New York.

Carris Adams, WIGWIGWIG,2020. Oil and acrylic on PVC panel, 35 x 40 in. © Carris Adams. Courtesy of the artist and Goldfinch, Chicago.

Carris Adams, WIGWIGWIG, (Detail) 2020. Oil and acrylic on PVC panel, 35 x 40 in. © Carris Adams. Courtesy of the artist and Goldfinch, Chicago.

Hank O’ Neal, March and Rally from the series Gay Day, 1983. Vinyl photo mural, 116 x 252 in. © Hank O’Neal. Courtesy of the artist.

George Bellows, The Circus, 1912. Oil on canvas, 33 7/8 x 44 in. Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts, Gift of Elizabeth Paine Metcalf, 1947.8.

Elijah Burgher, Swallow this whole world whole, 2014. Acrylic on canvas drop cloth, 108 x 72 in. © Elijah Burgher. Courtesy of the artist and Western Exhibitions, Chicago.

Block Party: Community and Celebration in American Art coincides with the 250^thanniversary of Westmoreland County. It is organized by Jeremiah William McCarthy, Chief Curator, with Danny Volk, Terra Foundation for American Art Curatorial Fellow.

Support for Block Party is generously provided by The Heinz Endowments, The Hillman Exhibition Fund of The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, and The Fine Foundation.

The Block Party exhibition logo includes the font Mixo by Matthieu Cannavo (Velvetyne Type Foundry).

Monday & Tuesday	Closed
Wednesday - Sunday	10am to 5pm